As the year 2022 came to a close, the world was thrown into a frenzy after a US-based AI firm, OpenAI released a groundbreaking solution called “chatGPT” which could converse, reply to text messages sent by humans and answer almost any question as accurately as if it were human itself and all-knowing. This solution even proves to have the capacity to write news articles, public speeches, academic papers, and computer codes and can go as far as discussing matters relating to your local traditional recipes.
Today, unlike a decade ago, countries are now competing fiercely towards attaining AI supremacy.
This is not surprising as recent events have proven that AI, Robotics, Blockchain and Cybersecurity have a huge impact on national security, intelligence, healthcare and food security. With fast advances in technology, there is no doubt that the next decade presents an opportunity for countries to redefine their future, and improve on the quality of life, healthcare and availability of jobs through the needed up-skilling of their workforce and re-modelling of their industries.
Deviating from an age-long Nigerian tradition of simply waiting to import and consume any latest technology in the world rather than contribute to its development, the nation is lucky to have some leaders that are keeping tabs on global developments and are guarding the coast keenly.
My parents established Otukpo in the 1920s — Inuwa Jibrin
After 2 PhDs, 3 MScs, I need more – Kwara female-don
For example, in 2019, a young Nigerian, Olusola Ayoola after bagging his Ph.D. in the area of Nuclear Robotics and working extensively with UK’s government decided to return home to establish Nigeria’s first fully functional robotics and Artificial Intelligence Facility for training, research and product development.
Since its establishment, the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN) has proven to be world-class and has even attracted international students and recognitions from the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Ms Amina J. Mohammed, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), USA and Canada missions in Nigeria, as well as First Bank of Nigeria Plc., Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the National Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE), the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Some of the groundbreaking research carried out at RAIN include unattended baggage detection, a mini weather station, AI-based Traffic Light System, a ground robot vehicle and unmanned VTOL aerial vehicle (IMORP), CETHED and RAINSC75/76.
The Chief Executive of RAIN, Dr Ayoola has confirmed that there are lofty plans in place including the construction of a Centre for Excellence in Drone and Unmanned Vehicles for Geospatial Intelligence, provision of training scholarships to the youths of Nigeria, particularly those from Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, and the improvement of AI Robotics product prototypes up to the required military standards.
Aminat Akinyemi writes from Ibadan, Oyo State
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